Thiago Alves Interview

Thiago "Pitbull" Alves is someone you do not want to step into the Octagon with. Alves is 16-3 in MMA with 10 wins by knockout, making it very clear that he loves using his opponents' heads as punching bags. With convincing wins against Josh Koscheck, Karo Parisyan, and the iconic Matt Hughes, Alves has become the next in line to fight UFC Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre for the title.

At the historic UFC 100 on July 11, 2009, in what is sure to be the biggest and baddest UFC event to date, Thiago Alves will square off against Georges St-Pierre, one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world.

The UFC

What made you want to get into the sport of fighting?

It’s been something that I thought about since I was young, not actually fighting, but the competition aspect about it. I watched a lot of Van Damme and Bruce Lee movies growing up and that just added to my wanting to become a professional fighter. I didn’t get into many fights when I was younger; I actually tried to break up a fight when I got into my first fight, the guy tried to punch me when I was helping so I had to knock him out. What was it like training with your idol, Wanderlei Silva?

It was pretty cool. I didn’t actually train with him, I just went to work out in his gym for a bit, but I mean it was still a really good feeling to speak with Wanderlei Silva because I am a big fan of his.

Have you been training your takedown defense extra hard while preparing for Georges St-Pierre?

The preparation for St-Pierre is pretty much the same, but I am pushing myself a little more than before. I’m always preparing myself for a 25-minute fight even if I don’t have a title shot. That’s the way I think, that’s the way I live my life, I’m always trying to take it to the next level. I also have my wrestling coach here with me full time so I’ll be ready for anything. Do you plan on staying off the ground against Georges St-Pierre?

I’m going to do whatever it takes to finish the fight against St-Pierre. I’m going to knock him out, I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I can guarantee that I will knock him out, it’s not going to go to decision.

In what areas do you think you have advantages over St-Pierre?

I think I have an advantage in pretty much everything, especially my striking and wrestling. People haven’t really seen my ground game, I never needed to, but I have been at American Top Team for six years training my wrestling and jiujitsu with high level trainers and they are one of the best camps out there so I’ll be very prepared.